Frans Douwe Slot – 24 Preludes for Piano – opus 15 (2023) [FLAC 24 bit, 192 kHz]

Frans Douwe Slot – 24 Preludes for Piano – opus 15 (2023) [FLAC 24 bit, 192 kHz]

In 1901, Edvard Grieg encountered many ‘Chopinesque’ elements in the latest work of the Zeeland-born (i.e., Dutch) composer and painter Gerard von Brucken Fock. The 24 preludes from opus 15 were played to him in Norway by Julius Röntgen, a respected (half) Dutch pianist and composer. From that moment onward, Grieg spoke – in jest, according to Von Brucken Fock – of ‘the Dutch Chopin’.

Wytske Holtrop, Frans Douwe Slot – Cello Frysienne (2020) [FLAC 24 bit, 96 kHz]

Wytske Holtrop, Frans Douwe Slot – Cello Frysienne (2020) [FLAC 24 bit, 96 kHz]

This new release features rare cello music by contemporary composers from Nothern Holland performed by Wytske Holtrop. In 2018, Wytske Holtrop graduated cum laude for her master’s degree at the Haute École de Musique de Genève (Geneva University of Music), where she studied with professor François Guye. She obtained a highly distinguished bachelor’s degree at the Koninklijk Conservatorium of Brussels (Royal Conservatoire of Brussels) with professor Jeroen Reuling. As of the 2019 – 2020 concert season, Wytske will be playing with the Konzerthausorchesterin Berlin, as a member of the Kurt Sanderling orchestra academy. She actively took part in numerous masterclasses with, among others, Natalia Gutman, Gary Hoffman and Nicolas Altstaedt. Wytske performed as a soloist with several Dutch orchestras and regularly plays solo recitals. She appeared internationally in festivals as the Internationaal Kamermuziekfestival Schiermonnikoog (The Netherlands) and the Ars SummerFest in Vilnius (Lithuania). In 2015 – 2016, Wytske wasselected for the orchestra academy of the National Orchestra of Belgium. She won several prizes contesting in the Stichting Jong MuziektalentNederland (a foundation that stimulates talented young musicians in The Netherlands) and the Prinses Christina Concours. In addition, she won the Prix du Musée Bonnat during the Académie Ravel in Saint Jean de Luz (France). In 2018, Wytske was awarded the Frisian Emmy ‘Runner-up Award’, named after and from the hands of the renowned Dutch violinist Emmy Verhey. Wytske plays a cello by Tanguy Fraval, Brussels (2011) and uses a bow by Doriane Bodart, Paris (2016).

Flanders Symphony Orchestra – 5th International Clarinet Competition Ghent (2023) [FLAC 24 bit, 192 kHz]

Flanders Symphony Orchestra – 5th International Clarinet Competition Ghent (2023) [FLAC 24 bit, 192 kHz]

The original idea for this fifth clarinet competition was that it would be part of the “Van Eyck project 2020 – 2021”. Everyone knows why this has been delayed by a year. For this competition, three composers were asked to write a new work inspired by the characteristic painting by Jan Van Eyck, “Adoration of the Mystic Lamb”. The composers Alain Crepin (Lam Gods Impressions), Johan Duijck (L’Homme désarmé) and Dirk Brossé (The Secret of the Mystic Lamb) have succeeded in this in a very special way. The International Clarinet Competition Ghent has now been organized for the fifth time. It has now grown into a special and highly appreciated competition that, due to its great and quickly built up success, has attracted registrations from more than 200 candidates from 5 continents. Of these, 65 clarinetists were selected to participate. On this album you can listen to the three finalists and enjoy their exceptional playing. Accompanied by the Flanders Symphony Orchestra, the Zemlinsky Quartet, Johan Duijck (piano) and soprano Franches Dhont, they will take you into the atmosphere of the competition!

Femke IJlstra – Stofsugersjongers (2020) [FLAC 24 bit, 96 kHz]

Femke IJlstra – Stofsugersjongers (2020) [FLAC 24 bit, 96 kHz]

Stofsugersjongers is a collection of poetry, etches and music from Tsead Bruinja, Mirka Farabegoli en Femke IJlstra about leaving, coming back and grounding, back in the days versus now, about not wanting to go home and the love which suffers from not wanting to go home and the same love which eventually overcomes.

Ensemble Lauda, Henry Vidal – Cantigas de Santuarios (2020) [FLAC 24 bit, 96 kHz]

Ensemble Lauda, Henry Vidal – Cantigas de Santuarios (2020) [FLAC 24 bit, 96 kHz]

Among the rich Galicia-Portuguese medieval lyric – considered de golden age of Galician literature -, we can consider the cantigas de amigo as the most delicate and elaborate expression of our culture. Through this album, the Ensemble Lauda recreates a very particular selection of this lyric: they are eighteen cantigas de amigo which parallel the Galician-Portuguese sanctuary.

Arjan Jongsma – New Perspectives for Marimba (2021) [FLAC 24bit, 192 kHz]

Arjan Jongsma – New Perspectives for Marimba (2021) [FLAC 24bit, 192 kHz]

Aliud Records is proud to present “New Perspectives for Marimba” by Dutch based percussionist Arjan Jongsma. Featuring works by J.S. Bach, M. Ravel and the world premiere recording of Sipke Hoekstra’s “Clio’s Patchwork, Fantasia for Marimba”, Jongsma takes a pianistic approach, truly opening up new perspectives for the Marimba.